Pascal Vignau of Encinitas has been chosen as one of five regional semifinalists in the second annual Foster Farms Fresh Chicken Cooking Contest.

His Pretzel Chicken Tenders recipe will be up against four other chicken dishes at the regional semifinal competition here in San Diego on Friday, Aug. 26.

Vignau and the four other California contestants will prepare their dishes to be judged by food journalists at The International Culinary School at the Art Institute of California, San Diego.

Two winners of that round will receive $1,000 each and the chance to compete for the grand prize at the final event in St. Helena during September. The grand-prize winner will receive $10,000 and a one-year supply of fresh Foster Farms chicken.

Pascal Vignau is chef/owner of Savory Casual Fare in Encinitas. He said his Pretzel Chicken Tenders dish was inspired by the resurgence of comfort foods, though he was seeking a healthier version of classic fried chicken.

Judges for the semifinal event in San Diego are Elaine Johnson, editor of Sunset magazine; Chris Ross, Food section editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune; Sam Zien, a.k.a. “Sam the Cooking Guy”; and Cathy Thomas, contributor and former food editor for the Orange County Register.